The effect of liming and seed inoculation on the yield and forage quality of alfalfa
2006
Stevovic, V., Agronomski fakultet, Cacak (Serbia) | Djukic, D., Poljoprivredni fakultet, Novi Sad (Serbia) | Djurovic, D., Agronomski fakultet, Cacak (Serbia) | Mandic, L., Agronomski fakultet, Cacak (Serbia)
Acid soils, with a pronounced calcium deficiency, occupy about 60% of cultivated area in the Republic of Serbia and are a cause of reduced crop yields. During the three-year study period, in trial set up at two sites on low-productive or acid soils, and analysis was made of the yield and quality of dry matter of alfalfa using liming of the arable layer and pre-sowing inoculation. The seed of the Mediana and Slavia alfalfa cultivars was inoculated with two pH resistant Rhizobium melliloti strains (R1, R2). The significant increase in the dry matter yield in the variants with CaO in the first study year indicates the justifiability of using this measure on these soils. In the second and third years the rate applied did not bring about any considerable yield increase, pointing to the need for establishing lime material standards and the possibility of its deeper incorporation bearing the alfalfa root qualities in mind. The pre-sowing inoculation also induced a considerable yield increase, primarily in the variants using liming. The strains used expressed stability in terms of yield, which considerably increased in the third study years even at sites with low pH value. The symbiotic characteristics of the Rhizobium strains justify the selection of the strains tolerant to stress factors, particularly to acidity, and their use in establishing alfalfa plantations.
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